Louis spencer flatatj



(No Model.)

L. S. FLATAU. PIRE KINDLING CARTRIDGE.

No. 547,635. Patented Oct. 8, 1895.

Wir/Waco@ v UNris States ATENT Fries.

LOUIS SPENCER FLATAU, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-TI IIRDS TO E.`B. GIVANS AND WILLIAM M. ROBINSON, OF SAME PLACE.

i FIRE-KINVDLING CARTRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,635, dated October 8, 1895.

' Application tied March 22,1895. serial No. 542,784. (No modem To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis SPENCER FLATAU, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dallas, in the county of.Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Kindling Cartridges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use `the same, reference being hadpto the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of articles known as lire-kindling cartridges, which are composed of a non-combustible substance saturated with oil or other burning fluid, and which may be provided with a handle and used as a torch.

The object of the present vinvention is to provide adevice of the above character which shall possess superior advantages with respect to simplicity in construction and efficiency 1n use.

The invention consists, essentially, in a cartridge made in two sections, each composed of coiled Wire,vwith their outer end tapering or contracted, forming a conical point, a sleeve of coiled Wire with which the inner ends of said sections engage, and a filling of asbestos or other material.

It also consists in certain novel details of construction and combination of parts here# inafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a cartridge used for lirekindling purposes constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing one of the sections composing the cartridge extended so as to form a handle and adapted to be used as a torch. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section ot'a modified construction of the same.

In the said drawings, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the reference-numerals l and 2 designate the two sections composing the cartridge. Each of these sections is composed of coiled wire and is cylindrical from its inner to near its outer end, from whence the coils are gradually contracted, forming a conical point 3, with an opening for the retaining-arms hereinafter described. v

The numeral 4 designates a cylindrical sleeve, also formed of coiled wire, and is somewhat smaller in diameter than said sections,

so that the inner ends of the latter can be screwed thereon. Passing through the openings in the conical ends of the said sections.

is a securing device, consisting of a piece of wire bent over at its center, forming a loop 5 and two arms 6. i

The numeral 7 designatesa filling of fibrous, textile, porous, or other material capable of absorbing oil or other burning fluid, asbestos liber being preferred.

The manner of using this device is as follows: The sleeve et is screwed part way into one of the 4sections and the asbestos placed therein, and the other section then screwed into the opposite end of the sleeve, so that the inner ends of said sections will abut against eachother and have the appearance ot a single piece. The arms 6 are then passed through the openings in the conical ends ot the sections, the loop 5 abutting against the end of one section and the ends of thearms bent up against the end of the other section, thus aiding in holding the sections together. A hooked Wire or poker may be engaged with the loop for placing it in or removing it from a stove or furnace.

In Fig. 3 one of the sections is shown as having its conical end formed with'a cylindrical extension 8, which serves as a handle. In this case the device may be used with advantage as a torch by railroad men and others. In other respects the construction shown in Fig. 3 is the same as in Figs. 1 and 2. The two sections having been connected together, as described, the cartridge is dipped in oil, which will pass between the coils of the wire composing the sections into the interior of the cartridge and be absorbed by the asbestos lling. Flame being now applied to the cartridge, the oil will be vaporized, and the gas escaping between the coils of the wire will be ignited.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the securing or retaining wire is dispensed with and a tube 9 passed through the handle 8 and the openings in the ends of the sections. One end of the tube is closed and about the center of the cartridge the tube is formed with openings IO, communicating therewith. The other, or that end of the tube passing through the handle, is open and may be connected with an oil-tank for supplying oil to the cartridge, or it may be provided with areceptacle 12 for the same purpose. The operation of this device is the same as that above described, with reference to Figs. l, 2, and 3.

By the above construction it will be seen that I provide a iire-kindler or torch which can be very economically constructed and which will be very efficient for the purposes intended, as the cartridge shown in Figs. l and 2 can be placed in a stove or furnace and used as a iiie-kindlcr, or, as shown, it may be employed as a torch for signaling and other purposes.

By making the inner section of coiled wire the oil can escape between the coils and pass through the coils of the outer section.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is l. As an improved article a cartridge for a fire kindler, a torch or other purpose, consisting of two sections of coiled Wire, having coni' cal outer ends and a sleeve ot' coiled wire with which the inner ends ot said sections engage, substantially as described.

2. As an improved article a cartridge ofthe characterspeciiied, consisting of 'two sections of coiled wire, having conical outer ends, the sleeve of coiled wire with which the innerends` of said sections engage and a filling of absorbent material, substantially as described.

As an improved article a cartridge of the character specified consisting of two sections of coiled wire, having conical outer ends and one of said ends formed with a cylindrical tubular extension, or handle, and the sleeve of coiled wire with which the innerendsof said sections engage, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the two sections of coiled wire, having conical outer ends one of which is formed with a tubular cylindrical extension or handle, and the sleeve of coiled wire with which the inner ends of said sections engage, of the supply tube inserted in said handle and sections having openings near one end communicating with the interior of said sections, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the two sections of coiled wire, having conical outer ends one of which is formed with a tubular cylindrical extension or handle, and the sleeve of coiled wire with which the inner ends oi' said scctions engage, of the tube passing through said sections and handle one end communicating with the interior of said sections and provided at its opposite end with an oil receptacie, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto ailixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS SPENCER FLATAU.

Witnesses:

G. M. LINDsnY, ll. MORRIS. 

